Here Are San Francisco Bay Area’s 2022 Eater Award Winners - Eater SF
"Against the backdrop of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, chef Anya El-Wattar is on a mission to introduce San Francisco diners to a softer side of Russian culture. The idea for what would eventually become her Noe Valley restaurant Birch & Rye started back in 2016 when news of Russian interference in the presidential election spurred the Moscow-born chef to seek a way to reclaim pride in her heritage. Now diners step into the warm, wood-wrapped space for a taste of the Russia she knew as a child. El-Wattar deftly bridges modernity and tradition with California-ized riffs on familiar dishes; delicate pelmeni stuffed with local Liberty duck float in a luscious duck bone broth, and a stunning vegetarian rendition of stroganoff stars einkorn noodles and wild mushrooms. Birch & Rye is also perhaps one of the most inclusive fine dining restaurants in the city, with a five-course vegan tasting menu and many dishes able to be made gluten-free. Outside of the kitchen, El-Wattar has helped raise more than $100,000 for Ukrainian relief through the World Central Kitchen, all part of her efforts to make Birch & Rye a bright spot in the city’s dining scene." - Eater Staff
